Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness saves money! The Harvard School of Public Health suggests that “every dollar invested in disaster preparedness yields savings of $4-$11 in disaster response, relief and recovery.”

Johnson County Community Health Services is part of your national, state and county emergency preparedness and response team. We meet with state, regional, and local agencies on a regular recurring basis to plan and prepare for the “what ifs” that could affect our residents.

In addition to promoting planning, preparedness, and education, one of Public Health’s most important functions is to provide medical countermeasures to our county residents if needed. If an infectious disease was threatening our residents, JCCHS is charged with administering medications &/or vaccines as quickly as possible once they becomes available. In order to accomplish this, Johnson County Community Health Services has the ability to set up point-of-dispensing (P.O.D.) locations. These may be “closed” PODs at other medical providers in the community or they may be “Walk-through” or “Drive-thru” PODs at various locations throughout the county.

Go to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for resources to help you prepare. Emergencies can strike anytime. A tornado, a flood or even a terrorist attack can change lives. Missouri families, communities, businesses and schools need to take steps today to prepare for an emergency. Preparing today can save lives!

Ready in 3 can help! Endorsed by the American Red Cross, the State Emergency Management Agency and Missouri’s Office of Homeland Security, Ready in 3 focuses on three steps you can take to prepare for many kinds of emergencies.

Clothing and Bedding:
In our cold weather climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that the power will be out and you will not have heat. Rethink your clothing and bedding supplies to account for growing children and other family changes.

One complete change of warm clothing and shoes per person, including:

A jacket or coat

Long pants

A long sleeve shirt

Sturdy shoes

A hat and gloves

A sleeping bag or warm blanket for each

Other Items:

Below are some other items for your family to consider adding to its disaster supplies kit.

Emergency reference materials or first aid book

Rain gear

Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils

Cash or traveler’s checks, change

Paper towels

Fire Extinguisher

Tent

Compass

Matches in a waterproof container

Paper, pencil

Personal hygiene items

Medicine dropper

Disinfectant or household chlorine bleach You can use bleach as a disinfectant (diluted nine parts water to one part bleach), or in an emergency you can also use it to treat water. Use 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use bleach with added properties.